I’ve already written about why I love short hair. (Click here to read about it.) And I just chopped my hair and wanted to help give other girls, who have been wanting to try it but are feeling very apprehensive about the change, some courage. It’s not as scary as you think.

The first thing that comes to mind is regret–you won’t like it and it will look horrible. I’d like to say, “Don’t worry, it will grow back,” but that doesn’t make it any easier, neither does it really give anyone the right perspective. If you ask me what I feel every time I chop my hair off, I would say (without a doubt) that I feel so free–like a huge weight has been lifted off me. Hair can be symbolic in that manner. For some, it’s the weight of a life crisis that they feel they need to let go of. For me, it has always been about one, breaking the Filipino stereotype about long hair–yes, it’s beautiful but short hair is too! And second, it was always about being more comfortable with myself and my lifestyle.

I’m a very active person. I like to fill my days with things I love to do! Currently, I’m working my dream job as Content Strategist at Bride and Breakfast Hong Kong, I’m taking Mandarin language lessons to hone my craft, I teach ballet (ballet is my first love), and I make sure to workout regularly. While I do love makeup and fixing up, I’m still Ms. Efficiency at heart and prefer a low maintenance lifestyle. Having said that, short hair fits into the picture perfectly.

But what about the fear and anxiety of the possibility of it “not looking good”? First of all, do your research. Before I chopped my hair for the first time, I did my homework. I read about my face shape. I looked for celebrities with the same face shape and checked out their short hairstyle history. I also did some research about the kind of hair I have–it’s semi-straight but thick, so it has the tendency to poof. After that, it was time to look for pegs–my favorite part. Given what I knew about my face and my hair type, I looked for styles that will realistically suit me. This way, I was able to avoid styles that would have been a disaster. Third, I read up on salons! My first ever cut was at Tony and Jackey. I really chose a Korean stylist because my research told me they’re good with Asian hair and they can do funky short hairstyles. So one day I visited their Alabang branch, and the rest is history! For this cut however, I went to Azta Urban Salon. They’re also known for funky cuts and hair color–I went in confident that they could achieve my desired look, and they did! Lastly, conviction. It does take a lot of guts, especially if you’ve had long hair all your life, but once you’re 100% sure that you want this change, it will be the best thing ever in the end! I think regret happens when you don’t do your homework and you aren’t able to truly see the positive impact short hair can bring to your life!

It’s not as scary as you think. I know a lot of people who have not gone back to long hair, or keep coming back to short hair eventually, after experiencing the wonders it does to your look, your bank account (yes, you save on hair products!), and your lifestyle!

Cheers, ladies! If you want that new look, go for it!

Love, Micki.